Burg: Day 4
Lawrence Manor

"I hope so," Tamara smiled and followed Malcom back toward his desk.

Dr. Lightwood opened her folio and removed a pair of rubber gloves and a small plastic box. Before pulling the gloves, she opened the box and sorted through the needles quickly, finally selecting one and a small vacutainer. After she had swabbed down Malcom's arm, she inserted the needle and began filling the vacutainer, then stiffened slightly.

So there was more than one mutant here last night, she mused, flicking the vacutainer. Malcom's smart...he isn't doing this on his own.

"Sorry, I don't talk much when I deal with needles," Tamara smiled slightly as she placed a cotton square over the needle and removed it. "I'm always afraid I'm going to have to end up poking someone three or four times, and I'd much rather just do it once."

Burg: Day 4
Lawrence Manor

"I can assure you this patient is glad for only having to be stuck once." Lawrence remarked as he held the cotton square down with his right hand. After a few seconds to make sure the bleeding stopped, Malcom stood up. "Is there anything else I can help you with, Dr. Lightwood?"

-------------------------------

Selena let out a barely audible sigh of relief when it was obvious the doctor was simply taking a blood sample under Lawrence's permission. Still, her curiosity was now perked.

After waiting a few more seconds, the younger woman knocked on the study door and then tentatively entered. "Oh, hello! I didn't realize we had a guest. Though, Jennings did mention something about a visitor..." the readhead said with a studious look as she walked up to Lawrence.

"I'm sure he did..." Lawrence said under his breath as he began rolling his shirt sleeve down. "Dr. Lightwood, allow me to introduce miss Selena Browining. She's staying with us for awhile. An old college friend..." -here he looked down at Selena- "well, not that old." he added with a smile.

Burg: Day 4
Lawrence Manor

"Indeed," Tamara smiled and nodded, pulling her gloves off before offering a hand to Selena. "Doctor Tamara Lightwood, head of the project at Quadrant 9. I seem to recall meeting you last night, but I don't think we ever formally introduced."

Burg: Day 4
Lawrence Manor

"If you got a drink during the party last night, then I'm sure we met." Selena said with a smile as she shook the doctors hand. "Are you going to be staying much longer? I think we have some fresh coffee and a bagel or two in the kitchen..."

Burg: Day 4
Lawrence Manor

"Thank you, but I'm afraid that I must decline," Tamara said. "I did not mean to take up too much of Mr. Lawrence's time, and as we have finished our business, I feel it is about time for me to depart."

Tamara closed her folio and turned toward Malcom.

"Thank you for your...time," she said, nodding. "It has been quite a pleasure talking with you."

Burg: Day 4
Lawrence Manor

"Maybe next time, then." Selena said with a smile. Despite having a chronic mistrust of doctors, this one seemed to be decent. At least she's nice.

"The pleasure was mostly mine." Lawrence replied with a slight bow. "I hope we can meet again soon when you are not so rushed for time." With that, Malcom escorted Dr. Lightwood towards the mansions main entry.

Burg: Day 4
Embassy Hotel

Tamara slowly climbed the last few steps to her floor, each step reminding her of how much of a blessing elevators were. She was glad Q9 still had a working one, but since the rest of the world had nearly gone to rot, it truly was a luxury. Her keys jingled as she took them out and unlocked the door to her suite. The door had barely closed behind her before her shoes were off and halfway across the room. Even the most prim and proper can be annoyed by heels.

After slipping her jacket off and over the back of a chair, Tamara carefully knelt and opened a drawer. Rummaging through the neatly folded clothes, she found her way to the bottom, where she drew out a small black box. After scanning her hand on it, it finally opened and she slipped the precious blood samples into it. The lid snapped shut, and Tamara checked the reading on the side to see how her little controlled environment was doing.

"So...another four days, at the most," she muttered, packing the box away and standing. Just should probably head back to Q9 soon, anyway. No use to arouse the suspicions of others.

Burg: Day 4
Fort Berg/Embassy Hotel

Katherine had gotten an earful from her father when he had arrived home the night before; she got a complete report on all the usual pencil pushers who graced General X’s presence. Along with that came all the usual complaints about the bad food, the bad beer, (the bad - you name it). Until finally; out came the strange story of a civilian that her dad actually took a liking to, a certain Dr. Tamara.

Figuring that this 'Doc' was a bombshell twenty-something blonde that was very well young enough to be her sister, Kat made a few inquiries with the Intel Weenies who worked for her dad. Turned out that the good Doctor was in her forties and not the least bit blonde. But the best info the desk jockeys churned up was Doctor Tamara’s status as the head of Q9, Katherine popped that question to her father. He readily gave up what he knew about Q9, which to his displeasure wasn’t nearly as much as he wanted to know.

Armed with this new knowledge, an address and a map, she found a nice excuse to get out the house and made her way down the road. When she was out her dads (and whatever soldier might happen to walk by) sight, she prepared herself – and then she jumped.

She didn’t know how exactly she did it, but she suddenly wasn’t where she was before. It had happened for the first time the day of the supernova when she jumped from the kitchen to her room. Now, after some testing she had learned how to control it.

That’s how she wound up outside of Tamara’s hotel. Well, as close as the map would show, because she could only jump to places she has seen. In pictures, or otherwise, regardless, she made her way into the hotel and up the long flight of stairs. After she located the Doc’s room, well then she knocked.

Burg: Day 4
Embassy Hotel

Tamara paused for a moment, unsure if she had heard correctly, then finally slipped her shoes back on and walked over to the door. Flipping the viewport open, she could see a petite blonde standing on the other side of the door. Finally, she undid the latch and opened the door.

"Good morning," Tamara smiled. "Can I help you?"

Burg: Day 4
Embassy Hotel

Kat smiled nervously, chewing on her lip a bit. “I’m Katherine Xavier, I believe you met my father at the Lawrence Manor Ball last night. I was wondering if we could have a few words – seeing as how the phone lines are down, I figured I’d just come over”

Burg: Day 4
Embassy Hotel

"Of course," Tamara stepped back and pulled the door open. "Come in and have a seat. I just started brewing some tea. Would you like a cup?"

Burg: Day 4
Embassy Hotel

She was more of a coffee person, but in the interest of the conversation she obliged.

“I would, if it weren’t too much trouble,” she replied, following Tamara into the rather plush hotel room. For someone used to bare bones military surplus furniture, this room was worth five stars.

Burg: Day 4
Embassy Hotel

Tamara shut the door behind Katherine and then gathered the various tea things onto a tray. She wasn't exactly a tea person herself, but as with all things Doctor Lightwood did, tea instead of coffee was a calculated move to relax, rather than excite, her guests--or, as the case might be, her patients.

"I do remember meeting your father last night," Tamara sat and began pouring the tea. "Somewhat quiet, but most obviously a man with a commanding presence. I must say I'm a bit surprised to receive a visit from his daughter, though. What can I do for you, my dear?"

Burg: Day 4
Embassy Hotel

Commanding presence? He probably stunk up the whole room. Kat thought, smirking a bit.

“Actually, this visit is on behalf of my father. You see, we’ve learned, through various sources, that you are Doctor in charge of Q9. The word on the street is that you and your geeks down south are attempting manufacture a cure for the radiation poisoning. My father obviously has a vested interest in your work and would like to be informed of a cure, when and if it is created.”

She politely smiled, took her tea and began sipping it.

Burg: Day 4
Embassy Hotel

Tamara squinted slightly at Kat, taking in everything about the girl and what she was saying. Finally, she smiled.

"I rather wish your father had mentioned this to me last night," Tamara said, smiling ruefully, "as I am afraid he is misinformed. My project does not seek to 'cure' those affected, but rather to equip them to use their newfound abilities to the fullest, and for the benefit of society. Thus, there will be no cure. I am quite interested as to why your father feels such an interest in the finding of a cure, however. Would you care to expound on that a bit more?"